Turnbull Stakes turnover a disaster

By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Nov 14 AAP - The experiment of holding the Turnbull Stakes meeting early on the Sunday, the day after the AFL grand final, was a disaster says Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines.

"The Turnbull was a disaster. I can honestly say we won't be doing that again," Hines said.

"We agreed to do it with the TAB, but if there is a draw in the AFL next year there will be no Turnbull move."

This year's Turnbull meeting was held on the Sunday to accommodate the AFL grand final which was moved back a week due to the two byes created by the Gold Coast introduced into the competition making it 17 teams.

But that won't happen next year with new team Greater Western Sydney making it an even number of 18 teams.

Hines said TAB turnover was down on eight major spring meetings including Melbourne Cup Day and Derby Day which were both record turnover days last year.

TAB turnover on the Melbourne Cup itself was also down on last year's record figure.

Hines said RVL was "absolutely committed" to having international horses competing at the spring carnival even though the record number of 11 internationals contributed to the Melbourne Cup turnover being down on the previous year.

He said there would be no cap on international runners.

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